Tarun Nagar In the UAE, Netflix has been a popular choice for streaming movies and TV shows, but with a growing demand for more diverse content, many viewers are exploring other platforms. Whether you’re looking for exclusive regional content, unique genres, or just something different, there are plenty of leading Netflix alternatives to choose from. According to recent reports, the UAE’s online streaming market is projected to reach a value of $600 million by 2025, with local and international services gaining traction. From global giants like Amazon Prime Video to regional services like Shahid and StarzPlay, there are several platforms catering to the preferences of UAE residents.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the top Netflix alternatives with better content available in the UAE and highlight what makes them stand out.
So, let’s begin!
List of 20 Best Netflix Alternatives in UAE
1. Pluto TV
Paramount’s streaming service is called Pluto TV. It’s also free because it makes money through ads, which is the oldest way for TV to make money. The idea behind it is quite similar to TV since it has a lot of live TV stations. But it also has a lot of movies that you may see whenever you want. So you don’t have to use popular streaming platforms to watch them. You can also get a lot of TV shows and movies like Mission Impossible, Zorro, and more.
2. Hulu
A cheap streaming service with a lot of movies, TV shows, and original shows should be your first choice if you want something like Netflix. Netflix has a much bigger library than Hulu, which only has 3000 or so titles. But it has teamed up with big companies to bring old favorites like The Simpsons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Frasier, and more to its services. Over 39 million people in the US alone have signed up for Hulu, which is thought to have the fourth-largest library of movies and TV shows among top streaming services. People in the US and Japan are the only ones who can use the service.
3. Apple TV+
When it comes to unique shows and movies, we think Apple TV+ is much better than Netflix. Right now, Apple TV+ doesn’t have a huge library of movies and TV shows, but it does have original shows that win awards and praise. Ted Lasso, Severance (which just came out), Tehran, and other shows are popular on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ is an American streaming service that you can subscribe to. It is owned and run by Apple Inc., an American global technology company.
4. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is one of the top Netflix alternatives that lets you watch a lot of movies and TV shows without spending a lot of money. It has more titles than Netflix, about 26,000, so you can watch both old and new shows on this streaming service. There are a lot of on-demand video streaming app development solution to choose from, such as Fleabag, Community, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Prime Video also buys the streaming rights to movies as soon as they come out in theaters, so you can watch new movies on this service much before they’re available on others.
5. Disney+
People also think that Disney+ is a good streaming service that can be used instead of Netflix. Disney+, which is pronounced as Disney Plus, is an American over-the-top and subscription video-on-demand streaming service owned and run by The Walt Disney Company, one of the three main divisions of Netflix substitutes of the famous American media and entertainment company. Now a video streaming app like Jio Cinema has merged with Disney+. There isn’t much information about Disney+ yet, but it’s already known as one of the best streaming services and a strong competitor to Netflix.
6. HBO Max
Like Netflix, HBO Max is an American over-the-top and video-on-demand streaming service that lets users watch a lot of TV shows, movies, and original shows. WarnerMedia Direct, LLC owns HBO Max. WarnerMedia Direct, LLC is a parent-subsidiary unit of Warner Bros. Even though HBO Max is a fairly new streaming service, more than 96 million people have already signed up to use it. You can only get HBO Max in 62 countries around the world which is one of the cheap Netflix alternatives for streaming.
7. Paramount+
One great option for people looking for among the popular streaming platforms Netflix alternatives that has sports, live TV, and local news is Paramount+. Before, it was called CBS All Access. Now, it’s called Paramount+, and it has shows from ViacomCBS and Paramount Pictures. With OTT platform development solutions, users can watch sports and live TV, as well as shows from MTV, Viacom, Comedy Central, CBS, and more. Football, basketball, soccer, and other games can be watched. While Paramount+ is cheaper than Netflix, it does not include CBS shows or movies in its base plan, which costs $4.99 a month and includes ads.
8. MUBI
MUByouis a paid video viewing service like Netflix that lets people watch shows whenever they want. Efe Cakarel started it in 2007. It’s interesting that the service was first called The Auteurs and changed its name to MUByouin 2010. People say that the name MUByoucomes from pronouncing movies with an accent. MUByoumainly targets independent TV shows and movies. To make it stand out, MUByouhas a lot of movies that aren’t usually shown in theaters. For instance, MUBI’s own art house theater, pictures from film festivals, and documentaries. Users can watch and download movies in more than 195 countries around the world with MUBI.
9. Crackle
It started out in 2004 as a service called Grouper. Now it’s a free service called Crackle. In 2006, Sony Pictures bought it. Sony Pictures is known for changing its name to Crackle. Crackle changed its name to Sony Crackle in 2018. As of 2023, Sony and Chicken Soup for the Soul are both in charge of it. The Android app development company UAE can make money by showing ads. Crackle is free, and it has enough material to keep anyone interested. Users can sign up for more benefits as well. It is among the best Netflix substitutes that can be accessed through web and popular streaming platforms.
10. Fandor
Since it first came out in 2011, Fandor is thought to be one of the leading Netflix alternatives to offer an on-demand subscription service for online video. Cinedigm, an American entertainment company, bought Fandor in 2021 and turned it back into the best streaming services like Netflix. It’s now a well-known service for streaming movies and a good option to Netflix. The goal of Fandor is to offer free, ad-free access to independent films, titles, documentaries, and old movies. It has over 6000 movies on it. But not all of the material on this platform is free to use. Users might have to pay for a premium subscription in order to see certain material and avoid seeing ads.
11. Plex
Plex was created by a developer named Elan Feingold in 2007 as a media center app. It is one of the best Netflix competitors that has since grown into a famous video streaming app that lets users watch free content whenever they want. To keep up with changes in technology, Plex launched its best streaming services like Netflix for the first time in 2019. Plex was bought by Rockwell Automation in 2021. Like a lot of other OTT platform development services, Plex makes money from ads. So, if someone doesn’t like these annoying ads, they can choose the low-cost membership that is based on subscriptions.
12. Peacock
Peacock is an American OTT platform that came out in 2020. It is owned and run by the TV and streaming section of NBCUniversal, which is a Comcast subsidiary. Peacock, unlike Netflix, lets you watch about two-thirds of its content for free in exchange for ads, which helps the service stay open. NBCUniversal Studios and some other third-party content sources provide most of the shows and movies on the service. Peacock is one of the top Netflix substitutes that slowly moves most of its content toward paid services as it grows, even though a lot of it is still free. Users can download existing material, and with paid plans that renew every month, they can also stream live sports and events.
13. Vudu
One more app on this list that works like Netflix and lets you watch movies and TV shows for free is Vudu. It’s paid for by ads, so there will be some between shows and movies. Vudu has a good selection of shows and movies from Warner Bros., Discovery, and NBCUniversal. You can either rent or buy them. Also, you can get a lot of famous movies from video streaming app development solutions. for less money than at other stores. However, you think Vudu is a pretty good tool for free movies and TV shows. You could use it instead of Netflix for the top video streaming Netflix clone.
14. STARZPLAY
How can the apps similar to Netflix that makes the very popular Power series not be on this list? Lionsgate owns Starz Inc., which runs STARZPLAY. It can be used in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The platform has become one of Netflix competitors in the Middle East thanks to its high-quality and popular material, which includes American and Arabic movies and TV shows, as well as its own content.
15. BeIN Connect
If you like football, you’re going to love this! All of the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, Spain’s Primeira Liga, and Italy’s Serie A can only be shown on BeIN Connect. Additionally, top sites like Netflix have added more movies, entertainment, and kid’s shows to their library. BeIN Connect’s most basic plan costs AED 19 a month. Please keep in mind that online subscribers can only watch sports shows and a few kids’ stations. Please go to the main website of BeIN Connect to find out more.
16. MBC Shahid
MBC Shahid is one of the first on-demand Netflix alternatives in the country. It has shows in English, Arabic, and Turkish. It is the two of its most famous shows. There are also dubbed or subtitled shows on the best websites like Netflix like Hollywood movies, and British TV shows. MBC Shahid just made deals with Fox and Disney, which means that this video top streaming services like Netflix will have even more great shows.
17. OSN+
OSN+ is another popular video streaming service in the UAE. It has English-language shows, Arabic and Turkish shows, and more. Merging with Paramount and other big companies are a big deal for the platform. There are also a lot of Filipino shows for our Filipino friends and family. You can try an app like OSN+ for free for 7 days, and then pay AED 35 a month to stay subscribed. To find out more, visit the platform’s main website.
18. Discovery Plus
If you want to watch reality TV and films instead of Netflix, this is a great Netflix substitute. Discovery Plus makes it easy to look through material because it has an interface that is easy to use. You can also get the app on most platforms and stream on them, like phones, smart TVs, and game consoles. The playback was just as good on my Android phone after you installed the apps similar to Netflix. But since Discovery combined with Warner Bros., some of the shows that Discovery owned are now on Max.
19. Vimeo
Vimeo is a site for storing and sharing videos. It is the free Netflix alternative that has both user-generated and professionally made videos. Vimeo is different from other top competitors to Netflix streaming services because it focuses on independent projects, short films, and videos more than full-length movies and TV shows. Independent producers and artists who want to show off their work often choose this option. As per the video streaming app development company, businesses and creators can pay Vimeo to use its services, but anyone can join for free and upload up to 500 MB of material per week. Vimeo is one of the best streaming services like Netflix for people who want to find new and interesting material. It focuses on creativity and community.
20. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is a free streaming service with a lot of movies and TV shows, mostly old movies and TV shows that are popular among movie fans. The site is supported by ads, so users may see some ads while watching their favorite shows or movies. But this means that Popcornflix can give its services for free, since users don’t need to sign up for a service. The Staff Picks section of Popcornflix is one of a kind. It shows movies that the team behind the apps similar to Netflix personally chose. The mobile app development company makes streaming feel more personal and helps people find new material they might not have seen otherwise. Popcornflix is a great choice for people who want to find unique and unusual forms of entertainment.
Closing Thoughts
There really isn’t a single best site that’s like Netflix. What you want to watch, how much you’re ready to pay, and other factors come into play. Even though Netflix is the most well-known streaming service, you don’t have to watch movies and TV shows on it. The list of the affordable Netflix alternatives shows that there are many that offer large movie libraries. A lot of them are less expensive, and in the case of Amazon Prime, they offer many more benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions!
1. What Are the Top Netflix Alternatives in the UAE?
Popular alternatives include Amazon Prime Video, OSN Streaming, StarzPlay, Shahid VIP, and YouTube Premium. Each offers a wide range of movies, shows, and original content.
2. Are these Alternatives Legal in the UAE?
Yes, these streaming free streaming platforms like Netflix are legally available in the UAE and comply with local regulations.
3. Do these Services Offer Arabic Content?
Yes, services like Shahid VIP and OSN Streaming offer a large selection of Arabic content, including films, series, and live TV.
4. Can I Stream in HD on these Platforms?
Yes, all of these platforms offer HD (and in some cases 4K) streaming options, depending on your internet speed and subscription plan.
5. Do these Platforms Require a VPN?
No, most of these services are available in the UAE without the need for a VPN.
